Projection mutoscope



Feb. 16, 1937. w. RABKlN PROJECTION MUTOSCOPE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 8, 1933 INVENTOR. I WILLIAM RABKIN BY I WWM ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1937.

W. RABKIN PROJECTION MUTOSCOPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1955 WILLIAM RABKIN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention concerns a mutoscope,- and more particularly such an apparatus in combination with and comprising projection apparatus.

As compared with cinematographic apparatus in which diapositives are used, mutoscopes have a distinct advantage where a moving picture of short length is to be repeated very often, completely automatically, or in a switch or coin operated apparatus; advantage is based priniarily uponthe simplicity, ruggedness and low "cost of installation and operation of mutoscope.

A particular point of advantage of a mutoscope isthe greater durability of the picture to be exhibited when shown a great number of times.

v On the other hand a. disadvantage is the flickering caused by the flicking cards of the mutoscope; and another disadvantage of the moving picture produced by a mutoscope is its limited length; and still another disadvantage of the ordinary mutoscope is the limited size of the picture. v It has been an important object of this invention to overcome these disadvantages.

Further objects thereof provide a completely self-contained moving picture apparatus which may operate continuously or may be remotely controlled, or which may be actuated by only a coin in the case where a coin freed mechanism is connected to the mutoscope, no manipulation whatever being necessary.

A further object is to make provisions for projecting a mutoscope picture at a larger scale onto a screen, and to provide for that purpose powerful means of illumination, without subjecting the mutoscope to excessive heat.

A further object of this invention is to provide on a projection mutoscope for interspersing a moving picture with still pictures at will, said still pictures being projected from a single card of the mutoscope for any preferred interval of time. This greatly improves the visibility and clearness of still pictures interposed in moving pictures, permits them to be exposed for a pre ferred period of time, it enlarges the cycle of a mutoscope and greatly enhances its value for advertising purposes.

This and other objects of this invention will be more fully explained from the following and are exemplarily illustrated in the mechanism of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the partly sectioned side elevaition of an apparatus of my invention.

2 shows a corresponding top view, part of the apparatus being sectioned away as indicated by a correspondingly identified dot-dashed line n g- Fig. 3, illustrates in a detail view a stop-gap mechanism which may be used in connection with the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2. It is partly schematic and comprises a wiring diagram.

Fig. 4 shows a top View corresponding to the stop-gap detail View of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate cards of mutoscope reels, in connection with means for adapting same for stop-gap operation.

Fig. '7 shows a detail view of the solenoid employed for the actuation of the projection mutoscope and a wiring diagram of the electrical devices.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various views.

The showing of Figs. 1 and 2 provides a housing H substantially enclosing the apparatus of my invention. Current is adduced to the housing through a cable C, said current providing full control of the apparatus if the apparatus is not intermittently operated by coins, etc. The current supplied by the cable C may either be controlled at a remote point or on the apparatus directly, as indicated by switch S.

Aside from such current facilities, the apparatus opens to the outside of two other points only. First, through the screen 13 (made for instance, of frosted glass) which closes the front of the upper compartment U of the housing H. The said upper housing serves to accommodate such parts of the apparatus which never need any attention, such as the rectifier and transformer which will be referred to hereinafter.

The lower part of the housing is preferably provided with full size doors D on both sides, which close the housing when the locks N are actuated. One of said doors D is provided with an opening 0 which registers with a fan F mounted on the end of motor M. The opening 0 may be closed by meshed wire ll, so that with the air, which is sucked in through the opening 0 for purposes of cooling the projecting lamps, is free of impurities or foreign matter before entering the housing.

The motor M may be provided with reducing gearing built right onto it, as indicated at l2, so that the shaft I3, which issues from themotor into the machine frame l4 revolves at a reduced speed. Shaft is is connected by a flexible coupling or universal joint IE to the worm shaft [6. The worm ll meshes with a gear I8 which idles upon a stud I9 mounted upon the frame l4. A downward extension 20 of frame 14 supports a lever 2! which carries at one end a wiper 22, lubricating the worm H. The other end of lever 2| is weighted so as to retain tact with worm l1.

Near the end of worm shaft I6, flanges 23 are rotatably retained thereon. They are thrustwise retained in fixed position on said shaft by a collar 24 forming part of shaft I6 and located between said flanges. The flanges 23 are connected with each other by pins or shoulder-rivets 25 and 26. By means of pin 25 one end of the hook 21 is fulcrumed upon flanges 23, the other end thereof being fulcrumed upon a pin 28 extending from the frame l4. The other pin 26 is vertically slidably accommodated in a slot 23 in the end of a rod 3|],

the wiper 22 in confrom which depends the core piece 3| of solenoid 32. The core piece 3| is shown inFig. 7 to be pulled into the solenoid, upwardly, by excitation of windings of solenoid 32. When thus actuated, the rod 30, extending up from core 3| retains the worm shaft '5 in a raised position, in which the worm I1 is in mesh with the gear I8, 1. e., theposition of Fig. 1.

When the current supply to the solenoid 32 is interrupted, the core piece 3| is released and drops gravitationally, the rod 30 sliding down on pin 26,

' until said pin is engaged by the upper end of slot 29. By virtue of the momentum imparted to the core piece 3| and rod 30 by the said drop, the end of the slot 29 engaging upon pin 26 swings the flanges 23 around pin 25 in clockwise direction (Fig. '7), so that the Worm I1 is disengaged from gear I 8. When the solenoid 32 is energized again, it pulls up the core piece 3|, and thereby the rod 30, the lower end of slot 29 engages upon pin 26, andv flanges 23 are swung in counter clockwise direction in pin 25 until the worm shaft l6 resumes its position substantially on top of pin 25,

in which the worm I! is engaged upon gear l8.

It will be noted that I do not rely exclusively upon the action of the solenoid to retain the worm I! in mesh with gear l8. The worm shaft I6 is vertically supported by pin 25, when in the position of Fig. '7. Whereas the solenoid is assisted by pin 25 in supporting the worm in mesh with the gear as long as the solenoid is energized, the gravitational action of the core piece 3| swings the worm from the supporting pin 25, when the solenoid is energized.

The diagram of Fig. 7 shows the electrical wiring of the apparatus. The cables C adduce the current through switch S and fuses A directly to the projection lamps L and the universal motor M, such a motor being chosen to allow the apparatus to be used on alternating current as well as on direct current. Current is also delivered to the plug 1? (Fig. 2) which may be inserted into receptacle 33 or 34. A swivel cover 35 is shiftable from one to the other of said receptacles, which are respectively marked D. C. or A. C. The plug P is disconnected when a machine is delivered, and the user must select between receptacles 33 and 34,--shifting cover 35 to the receptacle which is not in use,before the whole electrical apparatus of the mutoscope is connected.

The solenoid 32 is provided with direct current and alternating current windings which are superimposed upon each other and which actuate the core piece 3| in like manner, when suitably energized.

' When the plug P is connected to receptacle 33, the direct current Winding of the solenoid 32 is energized, if the electric circuit is closed by the switch S. If the cable C supplies alternating current, plug P is inserted into receptacle 34, which feeds a transformer T and a rectifier R, which then supplies direct current to the so-called alternating current winding of the solenoid 32. In this manner it is possible to provide a solenoid actuating the core piece 3| without having hum or without overheating in the solenoid. The solenoid 32 is energized as long as the mutoscope is in operation. Whether or not the motor is actuated during such time of operation, the worm is retained in mesh withe gear I 8 but when the machine is not operating and the solenoid 32 has released shaft l6, so that worm I1 is out of mesh, then the gear l8 and the mutoscope card wheel 36 can rotate at will and the latter may turn into a position where the cards are least pressed by thumb 48.

In order to operate the mutoscope in different speeds, a variable rheosat W is connected in series with the motor M.

The lamps L are mounted to the left and to the right of the machine next to the mutoscope wheel 36. They are mounted in sockets 3'! and 38, respectively, and the lamp L fitting socket 38 is omitted in Fig. 2 in order to show other parts located therebelow. A reflector 39 is provided in connection with each of the two lamps L, and

serves to concentrate the strong light of each of next to socket 38 is shown only in part in Fig. 2,

the rest thereof being omitted for the same reasons that a lamp L is not shown in the said socket.

The reel 36 idles upon a shaft 40, which protrudes from the bracket 4|. pin 42 at its end which is inserted into a suitable opening in stud IS.

The gear i8 is retained endwise upon stud l9 and in alignment with the worm I! by means of a segment 43, which is mounted upon the frame l4, and. which slidably engages upon the other side of the gear I 8, so that the position of said gear is fixed thrustwise. From the hub of the mutoscope wheel 36 and from the gear l8 extend toward each other lugs 44 and 45 so that the gear l3 drives the mutoscope wheel 44, when rotated in counter clockwise direction (Fig. 1) against the action of thumb 48 which flicks the mutoscope card.

The bracket 4| is retained upon the base of the housing H by means of a wing nut 46 engaged upon a stud 47 arising from said base. Since the bracket 4| is suitably slotted, it may be withdrawn in the direction of shaft 40, away from stand l4, when wing nut 46 is loosened up. The.

pin 42 on the end of the shaft 46 is thus withdrawn from the stud I9 and the shaft 40 is slid out of the mutoscope wheel 36, which then may be withdrawn substantially at right angles to shaft 43 from between the protection lamps L, which are mounted upon both sides thereof.

Of course the lamps L do not register with the gap between the cards at the flicking gap when the apparatus is not operated, because the cards pull the mutoscope wheel back in respect to the thumb 48, as soon as the worm I1 is released from gear I8, whereupon the mutoscope wheel finds a preferred position in relation to thumb 48, at which the least pressure is exerted by said thumb upon the cards of the wheel.

The thumb 43 is rotatably mounted upon a rod 49 extending from a bracket 59 which is angularly adjustably mounted upon stand M. A spring 55 is coiled up upon the rod 49 and is engaged upon the thumb 43 in such manner, that the end of the thumb is pressed in counter clockwise direction onto the cards of the mutoscope wheel as seen from Fig. 1. The angular play of the The shaft 40 has a' thumb 48 is limited by a pin 52 engaged upon an angular sector 53 which is mounted upon stud 48 near the end thereof.

During operation the card wheel presses the thumb 48 into an extreme position in a clockwise direction at which the cards flick from thereunder. When the worm l1 releases gear l8 upon de-energization of the solenoid 32, the thumb 48 flops back under the tension of spring into an extreme position in counter-clockwise direction, in which the thumb is disposed substantially radially in respect to the stud IS. The wheel 36 follows the said motion of the thumb by rotating in clockwise direction into a position where the last flicked card rests on top of the thumb.

The flicking of the cards during the operation of a machine takes place after a card has obtained a substantially horizontal position, in which it is substantially in the focus-of the objective 54, which projects the picture or legend of said card as illuminated by the lamps L onto the inclined mirror 55 in the upper compartment U of the housing 8, and from there the enlarged picture is projected onto the screen B and is there exposed to visibility from the outside.

It will be noted that the lower end of the objective 54 just clears the normal diameter of the outside of the mutoscope. The flicked cards do not have to assume a position at right angles or more in respect tothe card next to be flicked, because under the arrangement of this machine the objective permits a vision of the whole card next to be flicked, although the last-flicked card extends at an acute angle above the card next to be flicked. Under 'such an arrangement the cards do not have to be flicked through such great angles as formerly so that they are subjected to less wear and tear.

The horizontal disposition of the card to be projected serves best to allow a current of air to flow thereover and to take away the heat caused on the surface of said card by the two strong lamps L.

In order to conduct the circulation of the air as set up by fan F, over the periphery of the card wheel to the surface of the card to be projected, various auxiliary ducts may be used. In the drawings, a curved baffle 56 serves as a false ceiling directing the circulated air.

The objective 54 is provided with means for adjustment 5'! so that it may be focused properly. The manner in which the said objective faces the mutoscope card which is held by the thumb in a projection position, and the manner in which the said objective is lowered below the top of the mutoscope wheel into the close proximity of the outer periphery of the cards may readily be seen from Fig. 3. The said figure also shows the last flicked card to be disposed at an acute angle with the card held by the thumb in a projection position, and the range of the objective extends underneath the said last-flicked card, although that range of the card, as covered by the objective, cannot be seen from a raised point above the mutoscope wheel.

The view of Fig. 3 also shows an arrangement for exposing some of the cards to view or for projecting same for a longer time than others. For that purpose some of the cards may be specially shaped, so that they engage the thumb in a different manner than the other cards and thus bring about a stopping of the motor, the releasing of a clutch on the drive, or simply causing a certain card to be held for a longer time in the projection position, for a period determined by a timing mechanism.

In this particular instance I make use of an auxiliary finger 58, which exemplarily swivels upon rod 49, in a groove 59 centrally provided in thumb 48, said thumb extending around said finger in the shape of a fork. The back of the finger is shaped, so that its play around rod 49 is limited upand downwardly by the inner part of the yoke connecting the two forked ends of the thumb. By gravity the finger 58 will normally rest at its lower end against the bottom of said yoke, and, since the tip 66 of the finger extends about as far or further away from rod 49 than the tip of thumb 48, at which the cards flick up from thereunderneath, notches 6| are provided in the cards, said notches clearing the said tip of finger 58.

But where a card is to be exposed to view for a longer period of time than the other, the notch I is bridged, for instance a matting 62 is placed on top thereof, said matting being provided with a window through which may be seen the legend or picture on the card, which is to be exposed for a longer period of time (Fig. 5).

Whereas finger 58 normally depends into the groove provided by the notches in the various cards, it is engaged by the matting 62, which gaps said notches, and is slowly raised until its tip 68 comes into alignment with the tip of thumb 48. Now the matting is within the range of the objective and a mercury switch 63, which is mounted by means of a strap 64 on top of finger 58, has been tilted so far back, that the circuit 65 connected to said mercury switch to the left is broken, and the circuit 66 connected to said switch to the right is closed.

Circuit 65 controls in this instance a magnetic clutch Q which is interposed on the driving shaft l 3 issuing from the motor M, between'the reducing gear l2 and the stand l4. The clutch is exemplarily illustrated by a toothed clutch 6'2, which may be opened or closed by means of a forked lever 68 swivelably mounted upon the stand and provided with a pole piece 69 at its lower end. The circuit 65 is supplied with current from the switch S in the manner of all the other electric parts of my apparatus. As long as the mercury switch 63 was tilted to the left, the electric magnet was energized, so that the electro-magnetic clutch established the connection between shafts l3 and I6. But after the finger 58 has been lifted so far that the circuit of electric magnet 10 is opened, the clutch Q is released, and the motor runs empty. operating only the fan whereas the worm ll retainsgear I6 in a locked position, so that card seen through the matting 62 is continuously project-ed.

But in the meantime circuit 66 has been closed. which is connected to the current source in the manner of solenoid 32, and which comprises the solenoid H. The solenoid 1| being thus excited, raises the core piece 12, and with it the stem 73, which slidably extends, by way of suitable packings 14, through cylinder 15. The cylinder is shown as an example of a retarding mechanism and is filled with a suitable retarding fluid, which slowly oozes around the circumference of the piston 16 mounted on stem 13, as the said stem and the pole piece 12 are lifted by the solenoid l I. In this manner the reaction of the core piece T2 in response to the energization of solenoid H is retarded, and a certain period of time lapses until pole piece 12 has been fully pulled into the solenoid and the stem has been raised to its highest position. I

But before the said stem reaches its highest position it has raised a lever 16, the free end of which extends through a slot in said stem, until a mercury switch '11 mounted on said lever has been tilted into a closed position. When thus tilted, mercury switch 11 closes a circuit 18 which is connected in parallel into the circuit 65, said circuit being closed by mercury switch 11 in the same manner, as it is closed by mercury switch 63 when the latter is tilted to the left. Since the closing of mercury switch 11 actuates the electromagnet 10, the electro-magnet clutch Q is closed, so that the mutoscope wheel is again connecte with the motor M and is driven thereby.

g The matting 62 flicks up fromunder the thumb 48 and the tip 60 of finger 58 (or onlythe latter if it is longer than the thumb and the matting had previously escaped from the thumb), and the finger 58 drops back into the normal position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, ready to be actuated by the next matting'which is brought up during the counter clockwise direction, the mercury switch 63 returns to the position of Fig. 3, closing the magnetic clutch circuit in parallel with mercury switch 63 returns to the position of Fig. 3, closing themagnetic clutch circuit in parallel" with mercury switch 11, but also opening the circuit of the solenoid H. The core piece 12' and stem 13 are now free to drop back. down, thus also opening switch 11 and such action may be expedited by providing a check valve in piston 16 as indicated by the ball 19, which rests on top of an opening in said piston. I

To those acquainted with this art it will be obvious, that the electro-magnetic switch Qis not necessary, and that the motor M mayta'ke its place, when it is not necessary that the motor keep'running while the mutoscope wheel stands still in order to expose a card'for a certain period of time. When the switches=63 and 11 are thus connected into the motor circuit instead of the circuit of clutch Q, the apparatus functions in exactly the same manner but no ventilation is provided while the mutoscope wheel stands still. If the period o-fsta-nding still is short, no harm can occur; but if the still picture is to be exposed for a longer period of time it is advisable to use the clutch and thus to keep the fan going.

In the manner of all the other showings of the drawings, the suggestion of the use of the'mat ting 62 is merely exemplary and other means may be used in order to select certain cards for a longer exposure.

For instance I may substitute the arrangement a'pplied'to card shown in Fig, 6. The said card is notched as the other cards, in order to clear the finger 60. But a folded striptl of sheet metal for instance, is clipped over the outer edge of the card and may be retained thereon by a depressed tooth 82. Such a clip'will engage upon the finger 60 in the same manner as the matting 62.

Although I have shown and described one form of embodiment of my invention in detail, yet I do not wish to be limited thereby, except as to the state of the art and the appended claims may require, for it is obvious that various modifications and changes may be madein the formof embodiment of my invention, without departing from the spirit'and scope thereof.

What I claim is:--

1. In a mutoscope, a frame, a mutoscope card wheel, a gear on saidframe driving said wheel, a driving means, a Worm shaft. driven by said means, extending therefrom and swingable into mesh with said wheel, a rotatable collar on the free end of said shaft, a hookhingedupon said frame and said collar, said worm shaft being out of mesh withsaid gear when depending at its free end from said hook, a solenoid, a stern depending from said .co1lar,and a core piece on said stem, lifting said stemwhen said solenoid is excited and swinging said shaft from said depending position into a position of m-esh'with said gear, said collar beingswung'around the point at which it is hingedly depended from, said hook into a position substantially above said point,

2. Inc. mutoscope, a frameya mutoscope card wheel, a gear on said, frame driving said wheel, driving means, a worm shaft driven by said means,. extending therefrom and swingable into mesh'with said wheel, a rotatable collar, on the free end of said shaft, a hook hinged upon said frame and said collar, said worm shaft being out of mesh with said gear when depending at its free end from said hook, a solenoid, a stem depending from said collar, and a core piece on said stem, liftingsaid stem when said'solenoid is excited andswinging said shaft from said depend ing position into a position of mesh with said gear, said collar being swung around the point at which it is hingedly depended from said hook into a position substantially above said point, a vertical slot being provided insaid stem where it engages on, said'collar, so that said stem and corepiece drop for a predetermined distance before engaging and pulling down said collar, when said solenoid is deeneragized.

3. In combination witha mutoscope card-wheel, an electrically actuated drive for said wheel, an electrically actuated timing mechanism, a circuit breaking means operatively engagedby some cards of said wheel, and alternately closing the electric circuit of said drive or the electric circuit of said timing mechanism, and a second circuit breaker operatively connected with said mechanism and connected in parallel with said first circuit breaker into the electric circuit of said drive.

4'. In a mutoscope the combination with a rotation of cards. of substantially like size, a flicking tool, and means cyclically moving said cards past Said tool and flicking them'thereover, of a plurality of oversize cards and protruding therefrom, and of a device controlling said means arranged next tosaid rotation of cards, interposed in-the path of movement of the parts of said oversize cards protruding from said rotation of cards, and operated when engaged by said protruding parts. Y

5. In a mutoscope, a rotation of cards, a flipping tool, an electric motor'moving said cards and flipping themover said tool, a pair of switches connected inparallel and controlling. said motor, a timing mechanism controlling one of said switches and closing it a predetermined time after it has been actuated, and means in connection with one of said cards actuating said timing mechanism and openingthe other one of said switches.

6. In a mutoscope, notched and unnotched cards, means moving said cards, a tool flicking said moved cards, and a control device for said means protruding into the notches of but cleared by said notched cards and a clip attachable at will to one of said cards, bridging the notch of said cards and predeterminedly actuating said device when saidcard moves into a predetermined posi-' tion.

7. In a mutoscope, a frame, a mutoscope card wheel, a gear on said frame driving said wheel, a driving means, a worm shaft driven by said means, extending therefrom and swingable into mesh with said wheel, a rotatable collar on the free end of said shaft, a hook hinged upon said frame and said collar, said worm shaft being out of mesh with said gear when depending at its free end from said hook, a solenoid, a stem depending from said collar, and a core piece on said stem, lifting said stem when said solenoid is excited and swinging said shaft from said depending position into a position of mesh with said gear, said collar being swung around the point at which it is hingedly depended from said hook into a position substantially above said point, vertical play being provided for between said stem and its point of lifting engagement upon said collar, so that said stem and core piece drop for a predetermined distance before engaging and pulling down said collar, when said solenoid is 10 

